Underground damage prevention method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an excavator safety simulator and methods for preventing damage to existing underground equipment prior to excavation by using a Virtual Reality (VR) environment with underground facilities and markings, and real world examples of dynamic climate scenarios and challenges that an excavator will likely encounter.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/891,005, which was filed in the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office on Aug. 23, 2019, the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The present invention relates generally to excavation, and moreparticularly, to a method and apparatus for preventing damage toexisting underground equipment prior to excavation.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, efforts have been made in various municipalities to provideadvancements in underground damage prevention. Such advancements requirere-examination of processes, utilization of the latest technology andconstant evaluation of possible new solutions in order to maintain thesafety of workers and the community, all the while continuously strivingto prevent damage to the underground facility infrastructure that isvital in human lives, including but not limited to pipes, conduits,ducts, wiring, manholes, vaults, tanks, tunnels, and any encasementcontaining such underground facilities.

In order to facilitate the necessary advances, excavator training andeducation on new and improved technologies and equipment arecontinuously required to protect this vital underground environment.Specifically, the airline industry long ago recognized flight simulatortechnology as vital in enhancing aviation safety, and incorporatedsimulators as primary training mechanisms in simulating ever-changingflight conditions and emergency situations.

With the flight simulator, flight instructors can change numerousparameters of a flight situation to gauge the abilities of potentialpilots and train existing pilots to react to changing scenarios, as wellas create new safety parameters for the industry. The flight simulatorhas also enhanced the critical thinking and instant decision-making ofpilots and potential pilots.

Currently, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations requirepilots to continuously train in flight simulators in order to achievecertain qualifications. Indeed, simulators were instrumental inimproving aviation safety records while also providing the FAA withvital feedback in making regulatory decisions involving aviation safety.

While improvements have been sought in excavation, the prior art isdevoid of any simulation method for training individuals utilizing anexcavation simulator.

Given the significant advances that have been made in the aviationindustry with the use of simulators, as well as the ongoing efforts tomitigate underground damage in excavation, there is a need in the artfor a method and apparatus that enable the excavation industry to trainworkers in preventing underground damage prior to the actual time ofexcavation.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure has been made to address at least theabove-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at leastthe advantages described below.

Accordingly, an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide anexcavator safety simulator for preventing damage to existing undergroundequipment prior to excavation by using a Virtual Reality (VR)environment with underground facilities and markings, and real worldexamples of dynamic climate scenarios and challenges that an excavatorwill likely encounter.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a simulationmethod for training excavators, by which the excavator safety simulatoris used for enhancing the critical thinking skills of the excavator incongested underground environments while providing no risk to life andno possible damage to existing underground infrastructure.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a mobileexcavator safety simulator utilizing VR locator training simulation toeliminate the need for a fixed training facility site.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a simulationmethod for training excavators utilizing Augmented Reality (AR)technology.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an excavator trainingsimulator includes a vehicle having a driver's seat and a frontpassenger seat, and an open space behind the driver's seat and the frontpassenger seat, the open space including a VR workspace through which VRdata related to excavation simulation is transmitted and received, aseating area configured to be occupied by at least one of a trainee andan operator, a steering wheel configured for use by the operator toadjust a position of the training apparatus relative to the VR data, aslide out configured to receive a magnetic strip card insertion, by thetrainee, enabling input of ticket information and determining of anautomated positive response (APR) status, the APR status indicating astatus of an excavation location request of the operator, a trainingstation located aft of the driver's seat and configured to be occupiedby the operator, and a computer station located in a forward area of theopen space near the driver's seat and the front passenger seat andincluding software by which the excavation simulation is run.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will be more apparent from the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of the excavation simulator,according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a method of training individuals utilizing theexcavation simulator of FIG. 1, according to a first embodiment; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a method of training individuals utilizing theexcavation simulator of FIG. 1, according to a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described herein belowwith reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiments ofthe present invention are not limited to the specific embodiments andshould be construed as including all modifications, changes, equivalentdevices and methods, and/or alternative embodiments of the presentdisclosure. Descriptions of well-known functions and/or configurationswill be omitted for the sake of clarity and conciseness.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are notlimited to their dictionary meanings, but are merely used to enable aclear and consistent understanding of the present invention.Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that thefollowing description of embodiments of the present invention isprovided for illustrative purposes only and not for the purpose oflimiting the present invention as defined by the appended claims andtheir equivalents.

Singular terms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless thecontext clearly dictates otherwise. For example, reference to “acomponent surface” includes reference to one or more of such surfaces.

The embodiments are described herein by way of illustration only andshould not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the presentinvention. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principlesof the present invention may be implemented in any suitably arrangedelectronic device.

As used herein, the term “substantially” indicates that the recitedcharacteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, butthat variations such as tolerances, measurement errors, measurementaccuracy limitations and other factors known to those of ordinary skillin the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect thecharacteristic was intended to provide.

The expressions “have,” “may have,” “include,” and “may include” as usedherein indicate the presence of corresponding features, such asnumerical values, functions, operations, or parts, and do not precludethe presence of additional features. The expressions “A or B,” “at leastone of A or/and B,” or “one or more of A or/and B” as used hereininclude all possible combinations of items enumerated with them. Forexample, “A or B,” “at least one of A and B,” or “at least one of A orB” indicate (1) including at least one A, (2) including at least one B,or (3) including both at least one A and at least one B.

Terms such as “first” and “second” as used herein may modify variouselements regardless of an order and/or importance of the correspondingelements, and do not limit the corresponding elements. These terms maybe used for the purpose of distinguishing one element from anotherelement. For example, a first user device and a second user device mayindicate different user devices regardless of the order or importance. Afirst element may be referred to as a second element without departingfrom the scope the present invention, and similarly, a second elementmay be referred to as a first element.

When a first element is “operatively or communicatively coupled with/to”or “connected to” another element, such as a second element, the firstelement may be directly coupled with/to the second element, and theremay be an intervening element, such as a third element, between thefirst and second elements. To the contrary, when the first element is“directly coupled with/to” or “directly connected to” the secondelement, there is no intervening third element between the first andsecond elements.

All of the terms used herein including technical or scientific termshave the same meanings as those generally understood by an ordinaryskilled person in the related art unless they are defined otherwise. Theterms defined in a generally used dictionary should be interpreted ashaving the same or similar meanings as the contextual meanings of therelevant technology and should not be interpreted as having ideal orexaggerated meanings unless they are clearly defined herein. Accordingto circumstances, even the terms defined in this disclosure should notbe interpreted as excluding the embodiments of the present invention.

For example, the present application uses the terms “ticket”, whichrefers to the legal document required by an excavator to be submitted toa One Call Notification System detailing the scope of work in relationto the intent to excavate, “shallow cover”, which refers to when afacility is only buried just below the surface and is not deep enough tomeet acceptable industry depths of facility, and “hand digging”, whichrefers to the need arising when attempting to verify a depth and run aburied facility so as not to risk or endanger the facility, or whenexcavation with mechanized equipment is prohibitive.

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of the excavation simulatoraccording to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, the excavator simulator is a vehicle 100(hereinafter, “training trailer”), such as a mobile van or a closedtruck with open space behind the driver and front passenger seats, andincludes a simulator environment within the open space and having a VRworkspace 110 through which VR data is transmitted and received betweenthe individual being trained (hereinafter, “trainee”) and a simulationscreen 120, a seating area 130 in which the trainee sits and reacts tothe simulation, and a steering wheel 140 to facilitate moving theposition of the training trailer 100 in the VR world, not the trainingtrailer 100 itself. The trainee may use the steering wheel 140 to adjustthe location of the virtual excavation machine in the virtual excavationsite, relative to the excavation occurring in the virtual environment.The steering wheel 140 may also be utilized by the operator. Thus, theseating area 130 is configured to be occupied by both the trainee andthe operator, when necessary.

A slide out 150 is used for submission of excavation details by thetrainee to input ticket information and check Automated PositiveResponse (APR) status. The APR is part of the ticket process andestablishes a single point of contact between member operators andexcavators for communicating the status of an excavation locationrequest as provided by the member operators. An instructor operates theVR training program from a station 160 which may be located aft of thedriver's seat. A computer including the software by which the simulatoris run is housed in the forward area of the training trailer 100.

Based on this configuration, all excavator training may be conducted byan operator from within the training trailer 100, thereby enablingcomplete in-person excavator training. Furthermore, liaisons will createa training schedule and on-going education for trainees, thus obviatingthe need for trainees to travel to training centers. In at least thesemanners, a more convenient and user-friendly training method forexcavators is realized.

In addition to the foregoing, conventional office equipment such ascabinets, television (TV) monitors and additional seating and workspaceareas may be provided in the training trailer 100, as shown.

FIG. 2 illustrates a method of training individuals utilizing theexcavation simulator of FIG. 1 according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, in step 201, the trainee enters the seating area inthe training trailer.

In step 203, the trainee inputs the ticket information and checks his orher APR status. Alternatively, the trainee may not check his or her APRstatus.

In step 205, the operator starts the VR simulation training program forthe trainee seated in the seating area.

In step 207, as part of the VR simulation training program, theexcavator simulator training includes four dimensions of dynamic sensoryeducation. That is, participants are fully immersed by using influencedsensory stimuli including sight, sound, scent and feel, that is elicitedfrom constantly changing excavation situations and is transmitted to thetrainee through the excavation simulation.

Through sight, the trainee uses the full surround VR equipment duringexcavator simulation. Through sound, the trainee is auditorily providedwith excavation cues, noise, and outer interference normally experiencedduring an excavation. Through scent, triggers are implemented, such aspermeation of a gas odor being released from a damaged gas line orexhaust odor from excavator equipment (e.g., a backhoe) operation.Through feel, the trainee will experience the tactile reaction throughforced feedback of the training equipment, such as when the traineemakes contact with a water line releasing sprayed water, in an errantequipment operation. In this example, the release of sprayed water mayalso produce a related sound.

In step 209, the sight, sound, scent and feel feedback is received fromthe trainee, by the operator through the VR simulation, in response tothe corresponding sight, sound, scent and feel stimuli transmitted tothe trainee in step 207. This feedback is then saved in the computer.

In step 211, the VR simulation training program is ended.

Rather than training excavators how to operate a backhoe, therefore,this method enhances the knowledge of trainees in order to betterprepare the trainees to safely excavate in and around vital undergroundinfrastructure and to better educate the excavation industry on safeexcavation.

That is, the excavation simulator according to the first embodimentprovides excavation training and simulation through VR. The excavationsimulator is data collection-focused by determining the tendencies andbehaviors of trainees that are positive (e.g., which involve successful,damage-free excavation) and are negative (e.g., which tend to causedamage to underground infrastructure). Based on the collected data, themethod according to the first embodiment may offer informedrecommendations on excavation safety to the excavation industry, as wellas better train individuals on improved excavation.

For example, the excavation simulator may determine whether the traineeis violating a tolerance zone, which is a pre-defined horizontaldistance extending from the outer edge or wall of a line or pipe thatruns underground by between 18-30 inches on either side of the line orpipe.

As another example, the excavation simulator may determine whether thetrainee is paying sufficient attention to visual, auditory, olfactoryand tactile clues for safe excavation. If not, through the method of thefirst embodiment, the parameters of the simulation may be changed toencourage more focused and consistent attention to the excavation. Inthis manner, the method of the present invention is not static, butrather, is dynamic. The feedback from the trainee is constantlymonitored to dynamically impact the trainee for safer excavationtraining.

The VR training in the first embodiment includes virtual locating ofburied facilities, technician locating and marking the buriedfacilities, verifying the APR status of excavators, marking theexcavation field prior to commencing virtual excavation, educatingtrainees on the tolerance zones and when to opt for hand-digging asopposed to backhoeing, and final excavation with the sight, sound, scentand feel feedbacks. That is, there will be substantial trainingcapability even if a trainee is compromised with respect to at least oneof these four types of feedback. Based on this immersive training,various parameters are dynamically altered to enhance the trainingenvironment and mimic both expected and unexpected challenges in thereal world.

Through the training method in the first embodiment, APRs can beomitted, information on the ticket can be corrected, mis-marks ofunderground facilities can be demonstrated, shallow cover can bedemonstrated, and the instances when hand-digging would be needed aroundburied facilities can be revealed to trainees, among other benefits.

FIG. 3 illustrates a method of training individuals utilizing theexcavation simulator of FIG. 1 according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, AR technology is incorporated into the trainingmethod described above in FIG. 2, thereby providing an AR-enhanced VRsimulation.

Specifically, in step 301, the trainee activates the device forpresenting AR, such as a heads-up display (HUD), holographic display,smart glasses, or any type of AR-capable smartphone or handheld device.

In step 303, the trainee inputs the ticket information and checks his orher APR status. Alternatively, the trainee may not check his or her APRstatus. In the AR-enhanced VR simulation, the trainee may or may not beseated in the training trailer. That is, the trainee may be utilizingthe AR-enhanced VR simulation in any other suitable location, such as ahome or office.

In step 305, the operator starts the AR-enhanced VR simulation trainingprogram for the trainee through an AR-based presentation. Alternatively,in this second embodiment, the trainee may act as the operator.

In step 307, sensory stimuli including sight, sound, scent and feel of asimulated excavation is transmitted to the trainee via the AR device.

In step 309, the sight, sound, scent and feel feedback is received fromthe trainee, by the operator through the VR simulation, in response tothe corresponding sight, sound, scent and feel stimuli transmitted tothe trainee in step 307. This feedback is then saved in the computer.

In step 311, the AR-enhanced VR simulation training program is ended.

For example, an operator may need to present a known difficultexcavation scenario to a trainee. In this case, data regarding thisscenario may be presented to the trainee via AR, such that an excavationcompany may be pre-trained on this scenario prior to the actualexcavation.

Similar to how surgical procedures are performed prior to the actualprocedure, the AR technology provides trainees and excavation companiesthe ability to anticipate potential challenges within the excavationsite, without disturbing or contacting the existing undergroundfacilities.

As described above, the AR technology in excavation training accordingto the second embodiment may be realized using an enabled cellular phoneor an AR-enabled headset. AR in this second embodiment uses existingdata sets from various facility owners, in a manner in which those datasets can be superimposed into an real world, real time location. Thus,the operator is given the ability to see those facilities underground inrelation to the planned excavation.

By utilizing the teachings in the above embodiments, similar toprevalent requirements in the airline industry, it is anticipated thatexcavation companies will be required to train potential excavators andcontinuously educate existing excavators in simulation training, as aprerequisite for individuals obtaining and maintaining an excavatorcertificate and/or license.

Embodiments of the present invention disclosed in the specification andthe drawings are only particular examples disclosed in order to easilydescribe the technical matters of the present invention and assist withcomprehension of the present invention, and do not limit the scope ofthe present invention. Therefore, in addition to the embodimentsdisclosed herein, the scope of the embodiments of the present inventionshould be construed to include all modifications or modified forms drawnbased on the technical aspects of the embodiments of the presentinvention.

While the present invention has been described with reference to variousembodiments, various changes may be made without departing from thespirit and the scope of the present invention, which is defined, not bythe detailed description and embodiments, but by the appended claims andtheir equivalents.

1. An excavator training simulator, comprising: a vehicle having adriver's seat and a front passenger seat; and an open space behind thedriver's seat and the front passenger seat, the open space including: avirtual reality (VR) workspace through which VR data related toexcavation simulation is transmitted and received, a seating areaconfigured to be occupied by a trainee and an operator, a steering wheelconfigured for use by the operator to adjust a position of the trainingapparatus relative to the VR data, a slide out configured to receive amagnetic strip card insertion, by the trainee, enabling input of ticketinformation and determining of an automated positive response (APR)status, the APR status indicating a status of an excavation locationrequest of the operator, a training station located aft of the driver'sseat and configured to be occupied by the operator, and a computerstation located in a forward area of the open space near the driver'sseat and the front passenger seat and including software by which theexcavation simulation is run.
 2. The excavation training simulator ofclaim 1, wherein the VR workspace is configured to transmit sight,sound, scent and feel stimuli to the trainee, while the trainee isseated in the excavation training trailer, based on the software bywhich the excavation simulation is run.
 3. The excavation trainingsimulator of claim 2, further comprising: a simulation screen, whereinfeedback is received from the trainee, through the software, as thetrainee performs the simulated excavation by viewing the simulationscreen.
 4. The excavation training simulator of claim 3, wherein thesight, sound, scent and feel stimuli transmitted to the trainee iselicited from dynamic excavation situations in the software by which theexcavation simulation is run.
 5. An excavator training method,comprising: entering excavation training trailer, by a trainee;activating an excavator simulation training program, by an operator;transmitting sight, sound, scent and feel stimuli of a simulatedexcavation to the trainee; and receiving corresponding sight, sound,scent and feel feedback from the trainee.
 6. The method of claim 5,wherein the sight, sound, scent and feel stimuli is transmitted whilethe trainee is seated in the excavation training trailer.
 7. The methodof claim 6, wherein the feedback is received from the trainee, throughthe training program, as the trainee performs the simulated excavationby viewing a simulation screen.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein thetraining program is installed in a computer by which the simulatedexcavation is run and is housed in the excavation training trailer. 9.The method of claim 7, wherein the sight, sound, scent and feel stimulireceived by the trainee is elicited from dynamic excavation situationsin the training program.
 10. The method of claim 7, wherein the feedbackis further received via a virtual reality (VR) workspace through whichVR data related to the excavation simulation is transmitted andreceived, the VR workspace being located between at least the seatedtrainee and the simulation screen.